State Senator Facing January Trial On Domestic Violence, Assault Charges
DETROIT (WWJ) - A state senator charged in a non-fatal shooting incident involving his ex-wife will be returning to court in January to face charges of domestic violence and assault.
Sen. Virgil Smith, 35, is accused of firing as many as ten shots at his ex-wife's parked Mercedes-Benz during a domestic dispute early Mother's Day morning.
His trial was expected to start earlier this month, but a judge postponed a pre-trial conference until January 15. He remains free on bond.
Smith's ex-wife Anistia Thomas said she had resumed an intimate relationship with Smith, but found him with a naked woman when she arrived at his home after midnight on May 10.
Thomas claims that Smith punched her and pushed her out the door before firing shots, destroying the $35,000 car.
Thomas admitted under cross-examination at an earlier hearing that she pulled the covers off of the other woman, Titianna Grant, but says she did not attack her.
Smith's neighbor testified that Smith asked him to help shuttle the other woman, Titianna Grant, out of the home because she was afraid. He says he woke to the sound of someone running, "and like, I heard shots, boom, boom, boom, boom, boom, and I hit the floor."
Grant said she didn't see Smith hit his ex-wife but she wasn't wearing her contact lenses.
Along with felonious assault and domestic violence assault and battery, Smith is also charged with felony firearm and malicious destruction of personal property.
He is a Democrat, representing Michigan's fourth senate district, including portions of Downriver and Detroit.
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